Hello, my name is David. I'm one of the administrators here on Democratic Underground.

[Skinner]

If you were an active member of DU before January 2007, you might feel like you know me a little better than the people who joined since then. Because I was a more visible administrator before 2007. That's when my first child was born, and for the first eighteen months of his life I was his primary caretaker during the day. In fact I was his only caretaker. Fortunately, he was a really great sleeper, so I had lots of time to work during naps. Then his little brother was born, and I couldn't possibly do it all. So we got some part-time childcare, and I continued to split my time between running Democratic Underground and taking care of my kids. It was perhaps the most difficult thing I have ever done. And I did it for one simple reason: Because I could.

EarlG, one of the other DU Administrators, has a similar story. When his son was born, I did not want to deny him the opportunity which I myself enjoyed. Like me, he was the primary caretaker for his son during the workday, and like me he had to figure out how to balance his administrative and parental responsibilities.

We know that this arrangement required some sacrifices: From ourselves, from our families, and from Democratic Underground. I think it's apparent that it has not been a complete success. But we managed to hold it all together somehow. DU is still here, and our kids seem to be doing okay. So that's good. (Fortunately Elad, the third DU Administrator, was around full-time to make sure our servers didn't disappear or blow up or something.) EarlG and I know how lucky we are to have had this opportunity. And we will always be grateful to all of you, the members of DU, who helped make it possible. Thank you.

It just so happens that our family circumstances have both changed in the past few weeks so (coincidentally) we both once again find ourselves with more time to devote to Democratic Underground. In other words: You'll be seeing us more often from now on.

We signed a lease on a new office on Monday, so EarlG and I will be back together in the same room for the first time in three years.

EarlG is back writing the Top 10 Conservative Idiots (at least until the elections in November).

With the help of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Winston & Strawn, we are aggressively defending our rights in a closely watched copyright-trolling case. In case you missed it, the http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4556835">press release was posted in our Latest Breaking News forum yesterday. And http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/28/r-j-owner-faces-counterclaim-copyright-lawsuit-cam">here is an article about it.

Tomorrow we will unveil our first-annual Democratic Underground Member Attitudes Survey. The purpose of the survey is to collect some hard data to help us figure out who our members are, and how you feel about Democratic Underground. We want as many people as possible to take it, so we can get a really good sample. We hope that the results help give us some idea of where we go from here.

We're going to re-open the Ask the Administrators forum next week. Over time, we believe that the return of the ATA forum will go a long way toward addressing the concerns many members have expressed. We have unintentionally allowed too many small misunderstandings to grow into big misunderstandings, and we think bringing back the ATA forum will help make that less common.

I know that Democratic Underground has seen some rough patches over the last year, but overall we feel really positive. I love this place. There still isn't any other place quite like it on the Internet. And I'm looking forward to working with you all to help make Democratic Underground the best it can be.

David Allen
DU Administrator

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. re: "re-open the Ask the Administrators" Yes. Yes. Yes.

Of course that forum was a side-show, but it gave a sense of transparency and also bled some of the lunacy/emotion from the main forums.

Good idea.

:hi:

[supernova]

8. About those keys...

:rofl:

Welcome back ATA!

[MuseRider]

225. LOL

I always wondered if they found them. :-)

[Hawkeye-X]

346. They must have - the ATA door is ironclad!

Not even a nuclear bomb can open the door!

Hawkeye-X

[The Doctor.]

173. Well, I'm sure we can help earlg catch up on all the Top Tens he missed.

Shouldn't be hard. :evilgrin:

[Botany]

2. So the Skinner Box is back in play?

[still_one]

3. Two Thumbs Up /nt

[Beetwasher]

Light At The End Of The Toddler Tunnel? I Hear You!

Good to see you around, Skinner!

[kentuck]

4. "Skinner"...

Sometimes it's easy to forget that Admins have lives too..

[vanbean]

205. I really, really wish Bob Boudeleigh (or however he spelled his name) would come back.

Any chance of that?

[vanbean]

258. Or do I mean Boudelang? Anyway, I sure miss him. God, that was a funny bit.

[nemo137]

306. How long has it been, anyway?

Although, I feel like that Confederate Yankee guy is so very close to that that I've been getting my fix, but I loved the Bob Boudelang columns.

[lumberjack_jeff]

325. I'm pretty sure Bob is busy with his upcoming senate election.

The teaparty was made for him.

[blondeatlast]

5. Y'all are the best. Thanks for it all! nt

[G_j]

6. that's great news!

:toast:

Tomorrow we will unveil our first-annual Democratic Underground Member Attitudes Survey. The purpose of the survey is to collect some hard data to help us figure out who our members are, and how you feel about Democratic Underground. We want as many people as possible to take it, so we can get a really good sample. We hope that the results help give us some idea of where we go from here.

We're going to re-open the Ask the Administrators forum next week. Over time, we believe that the return of the ATA forum will go a long way toward addressing the concerns many members have expressed. We have unintentionally allowed too many small misunderstandings to grow into big misunderstandings, and we think bringing back the ATA forum will help make that less common.

[TK421]

7. Will the Hate Mailbag ever come back?

[daleanime]

71. Please...

are our trolls no longer interesting?:bounce:

[gkhouston]

123. Hmm, maybe we should have a Sock Drawer in addition to a hate mailbag.

For those "new" DUers who seem eerily familiar. }(

[JuniperLea]

185. My iggie list is 95% pizza now...

Many socks... maybe that's my sock drawer... :rofl:

[daleanime]

224. Huh?

:shrug:

[gkhouston]

316. ...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sockpuppet&defid=4792041

[AwakeAtLast]

266. HA HA - that would be funny

and helpful to me because I am always clueless until someone gets pizza......

[TK421]

161. They just pretend to troll...I like reading the ones sent deliberately n/t

[Posteritatis]

140. GD never went away, though. (nt)

[martymar64]

335. I second that!

Love to read what they have to say about us.

[Pathwalker]

9. Thank you, Skinner! Congratulations, good luck w/ lawsuit!

Looking forward to Top 10 Conservative Idiots, the Survey, and the Ask The Administrator.s Forum.
Bravo! :yourock:

[MineralMan]

10. It will be interesting to see how things go.

[Solly Mack]

11. K&R

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. I'm really happy that DU is teaming up with EFF to fight this lawsuit.

Free speech is an important cause.

On a personal note, I hope your "family circumstances have changed in the past few weeks" in a positive (or at least not negative) way.

I look forward to the survey.

[Skinner]

22. The change is not negative.

There hasn't been any family tragedy or anything like that.

[MattBaggins]

297. You should go back and edit that part.

Sorry but first thing through my mind was "wow skinner got divorced?".

[martymar64]

336. I'm guessing kids going to school now.

Anyways, glad you'll be around more. I've enjoyed your site for years and hope to enjoy it for man more.

Welcome back!

[Poll_Blind]

13. Ah, the ATA forum where one could ask painfully blunt questions! I love it!

I'm sure it was not particularly pleasant for you guys but I really believe it helped people understand where you were/are coming from so much more.

PB

[myrna minx]

21. My favorite was: How do I start a thread?

:D I wonder if NSMA ever found her keys?

[Renew Deal]

48. lol

:rofl:

[blondeatlast]

70. that's true. It could be good for some laughs, but it also made me realize that Skinner, et al. were

dedicated to, and sincere about DU, and that it truly was (and is) a labor of love.

[myrna minx]

14. K&R n/t

[RainDog]

15. nothing is more important than the kids you love

and people make difficult decisions all the time based upon that truth.

glad you'll be able to put in more time here, tho. it will be nice to see the admin. forum again and best wishes on the copyright case.

[polmaven]

177. Skinner and EarlG have shown,

over the last 3.5+ years, one of the big reasons this site is as attractive as it is. These two men apparently had no qualms whatsoever about taking on "traditionally" women's roles - those of being the primary caretaker for their children.

That type of enlightenment and male/female equality can only flow into their oversight of this forum.

Congratulations, both of you....and to Elad as well for taking on a larger role to allow you to do what you needed to do.

[ixion]

16. Welcome back, Dave. And congrats on the growing family.

:toast:

[ensho]

17. thank you for this note to us - and I'm sorry and apologize for

sometimes not sticking to the 4 paragraph rule. I just get carried away sometimes.

but I never wanted to cause DU trouble.

what nice fathers you two are. in my family the men ignore babies and toddlers.

[awoke_in_2003]

91. Ah, so you're to blame...

I should have known it :rofl:

[inna]

18. Excellent! kr

[supernova]

19. Welcome back to the forums!

:applause: Skinner and EarlG!

Elad, we love talking to you too.

No, I'm not sucking up. You are genuinely thoughtful guys.

And glad that your families are thriving too. That's the way it should be. :-)

[Mz Pip]

20. Yay!!!

:applause:

[Scuba]

23. I'm a newer member, so don't remember you from the early days, but...

...want you to know how much I appreciate DU and the DU administrators.

I also find DU to be pretty well designed and run, from a users perspective. Great job, and again, thanks.

[lpbk2713]

24. DU is a great net neighborhood.

I spend hours here at a stretch some times. And thanks for the info.


Good luck in court. I know it will turn out favorably.


:thumbsup: :hi: :thumbsup:

[Binka]

25. Great News!

You guys have been missed.:party:

[H2O Man]

26. Sounds good.

Thanks.

[demmiblue]

27. Sounds good! K&R

:applause:

[pipi_k]

28. Oh my poor tummy!

I have to go calm it down now because it got to rolling over more and more as I read on, thinking that this was going to be a "See you all later, it's been fun" thread.


I'm so glad to see that not only is DU still going on, but there will be a bigger Admin presence here as well.



Oh, and the "Top 10 Conservative Idiots" is icing on the cake!



:party:

[Buns_of_Fire]

62. Being the pessimist I am, I kept waiting for that punch line, too.

And boy, was I relieved to find out that everything is going well (both personally and DU-ily) and is poised to do even better.

Of course, now that dad's back, we probably should clean up a few of those piles of Cheetos that have been strewn about here and there. And maybe stash the blow-up dolls and other assorted toys in the closet.

If we're REALLY good, maybe even Bob Boudelang will stop by some day for a Special Guest Editorial. But I'm not sucking up or anything, so stop saying that.

Skinner, EarlG, Elad: :yourock:

[pipi_k]

149. OMG I would even

shave my back if it meant Bob Boudelang might show up for a bit...

He was the best!


:7

[gateley]

208. I know! My heart stopped at "circumstances have changed" --

and it was like hearing your lover was in an accident before learning that everything is okay. The fear, then the relief!

I would miss DU SOOOOO much!

[mntleo2]

29. Glad to hear this David

...as a long time (and penitent) Du-er I want you to know your website is the first place I come when I turn on my computer. I plan to take your survey, but to be honest with you, I am completely happy with almost all your guys do. I am just so glad you are here.

Cat in Seattle (friend of Andy's)

[mntleo2]

36. Oh and Pee-Ess

...I came across a campaign button of Andy's when he ran for WA State Secretary, he gave it to me while we were outside a Dem caucus smoking and laughing. What we were laughing at was the whole fake thing, it is hard to explain. I WILL tell you, when it came to political gossip, Andy was AWESOME and it was always a bright spot to sneak outside with him for a smoke and "get the dirt", laughing our asses off at the parade.

Do you want the campaign button? I can sent it to you if you do.

Love,
Cat

[LWolf]

267. I still miss Andy. nt

[gateley]

209. Ditto on DU is the first place I come. I don't know who Andy is, but I AM in Seattle! nt

[LiberalAndProud]

247. You missed one of the great ones. So sad.

If you're interested in some DU history ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=190667

Fierce advocate for election reform. Gone from us far too soon.

[gateley]

288. Thank you - I remember his posts, didn't know his name was Andy. I'm so sorry,

but look what he did while he was here!

[Ellipsis]

30. Excellent news... Thanks David K&R n/t

[Dappleganger]

31. Thanks for all you do.

I don't think you can hear that often enough, but as a parent with four children who juggles a number of things, THANKS!

[countingbluecars]

32. Great to hear! n/t

[madmax]

33. Great news

You guys are the best and I know it's safe to say that DU'ers deeply care about each of you and your families.

:grouphug:

[Gormy Cuss]

34. The member survey is a great idea.

I hope that you plan to hire survey professionals to write, administer, and aggregate the data.

Also,if you want hard data with candid opinions from the whole spectrum of DUers it's imperative that anonymity be maintained.


--Gormy, former survey professional (and no, I'm not looking work) ;-)

[Skinner]

50. Anonymity will be maintained.

But we aren't hiring professionals to handle the survey.

[Stinky The Clown]

68. What's the plan for maintaining anonymity? Will anyone know who wrote what?

I can't imagine that an online survey can be completely anonymous. Surely someone will know that I wrote that I don't like your haircut unless a third party is compiling the data.

edit to change "what't" to "what's"

[Skinner]

90. We aren't saving usernames or other personally identifiable data with each record.

We are only saving the year someone joined (but not the exact date), and a broad post-count range (but not the exact count). People who take the survey will see exactly what information is being saved with their responses. The DU Administrators will not be able to figure out who wrote what.

You have my word on that. It's up to each individual person to decide whether they want to take my word or not. The survey is voluntary.

[Stinky The Clown]

127. I'll take the survey. I'll also take your word.

Thanks for the get-back.

[CLANG]

174. So how are we to get any credit for super ass kissing?

[lumberjack_jeff]

326. Skinner already knows that you don't like his haircut.

He's a big boy.

I really look forward to the survey, and I don't care overmuch if it's anonymous. My observation is that kudos are in order due to the fact that they're asking.

[byronius]

35. Dude, you're like my favorite entity. I, uh, live here.

Sorry if my rent is late sometimes. When I'm rich, I'll tithe ten percent, I swear.

[Nite Owl]

Looking forward to the survey!

And the ATA forum!!!!
I think that most of us who have been here a while really love this place even though lately it hasn't exactly been fun. I hope our issues can be resolved, we are all dems here and want the best for the party and the country.

[OneGrassRoot]

37. Awesomeness...

:thumbsup:

Thanks. :hi:

[Gold Metal Flake]

38. Nice post, Hitler.

With that attitude I hope you enjoy the upcoming Republican takeover of Congress.

















OLIVE GARDEN!!

[awoke_in_2003]

100. Hey Pol Pot...

you really want to start a flame war, try this: CIRCUMCISION

:hide:

[Gold Metal Flake]

103. Well played, Stalin, well played.

Pit bulls and feral cats!

[Lilith Velkor]

144. rofl, Mao

Breast-feeding.

[Dappleganger]

156. And don't forget screaming babies on airplanes, Hugo! nt

[awoke_in_2003]

251. And restaraunts, Baby Doc. nt

[martymar64]

337. And Oasis, Pinochet.

[awoke_in_2003]

341. Hey Simon LaGree..

good one :)

[Dr.Phool]

158. Smokers!

[Catshrink]

234. Wow, That was a cutting remark.

[lark]

120. WTF?

I guess some people are just snarky, no matter what the topic?

:shrug:

[Skinner]

122. I think it was meant as a good-natured joke.

No offense taken. :)

[SteppingRazor]

125. I'm certain it was ... Hitler.

:hide:

[awoke_in_2003]

252. Dude, you can't use Hitler twice...

you need to think of another despot :)

[SteppingRazor]

276. Nice comeback, Genghis. n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

286. That's better, Fidel. nt

[SteppingRazor]

287. I'm officially pulling out of this thread beforeDU's pro-Fidel folks flame your ass.

:toast:

[awoke_in_2003]

305. I have asbestos underwear. nt

[PVnRT]

141. You know who else told jokes? HITLER

[awoke_in_2003]

253. I once saw film...

of Stalin chuckling with FDR :rofl:

[Kali]

178. ...

[Gold Metal Flake]

199. Poifect!

:rofl:

[underpants]

233. Perfect

:rofl:

[LiberalAndProud]

250. Oh shit! LOL

:rofl: !!!

[chimpymustgo]

39. Onward! K&R.

[tanyev]

40. Darn. No more food fights in the cafeteria.

:P

[Renew Deal]

51. Obviously you don't know anything about ATA.

It's all foodfights all the time and everybody seems to have Swedish Fish.

[MrScorpio]

Welcome back!

'Bout time!

[SidDithers]

41. K&R...

thanks, Skinner.

Sid

[HughMoran]

42. Good to hear

DU needs some attention - that's for certain.

[BeFree]

43. Uh-oh

The Boss is back. Make yourselves look busy!!

********

I love DU. It's weird. Loving something that you can't feel.

The only place I see DU is on this modern boob tube. Nowhere else does it exist.

Yet DU has become a part of my personal environment. If someone had told me this 10 years ago, I wouldn't have believed it.

Much thanks goes to the creators of DU, and those who, like me, have a safe place to communicate, grow politically, and become wiser. Together.

[sandnsea]

44. GOOD! n/t

[Skidmore]

45. Yippee!!! T10CI will return! I've missed that list so much.

It used to be the first thing I checked on Monday mornings and my favorite guessing game was to see how closely it matched my personal choices.

[itsrobert]

46. Keep those Mods in check

Some abuse their powers. Power corrupts. Good job.

[LoZoccolo]

47. The boys are back in town!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyJt05xVUJo

[Renew Deal]

49. ATA is coming back? Evil Genius!!!!

:rofl:

[madinmaryland]

52. WOO HOO!! ATA is back. Now I can find out how to respond to a post!!

:D

[Renew Deal]

53. And you can personally request that certain members be banned.

I always loved that. :rofl:

[blondeatlast]

75. HAH!

:rofl:

Good times are back!

[robdogbucky]

54. Yo, Skinner

Welcome back. I took interest in the announcement and especially this part of it:


"Democratic Underground Member Attitudes Survey. The purpose of the survey is to collect some hard data to help us figure out who our members are, and how you feel about Democratic Underground."



You probably are aware of a thread that asdjrocky started a month or two ago, wherein he asked the simple question, "Are you okay?"

The response to that simple question opened floodgates of emotion. I was gobsmacked at the candor with which otherwise anonymous DU members bared their collective soul. Prior to reading that, I had no idea of the many members here that are suffering in their personal lives now, and are suffering greatly due in the main to the current "recession." If you remember it or want to get educated as to whom is posting here and what is going on with them, I would recommend you start there with a survey. I have grown a new respect for those that are suffering through the current economic times in stoic silence. It was a real eye-opener. A lot of people are suffering, taking care of others, sacrificing like never before. Many are barely keeping it together. I was dumbfounded at the percentage of respondents that were in dire need of some kind.

Please go there first to get a feel for the real DU.


I am still in amazed wonderment at how strong some of our members are.




Just my dos centavos


robdogbucky

[renate]

73. I just spent a bittersweet few minutes going through that thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8824792

Bless asdjrocky's sweet heart. It was so sad to reread about the troubles that so many DUers are/were going through, but the support and caring was lovely. It was a great snapshot of the essence of DU, I think--there are disagreements and genuine conflicts between members due to heartfelt differences and occasional personality clashes, but underneath it all, DU is a true community.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

55. welcome back. K&R

[Lisa0825]

56. WOOHOO!!! Good to see you, and happy to hear ATA is back!!! :-)

[livetohike]

57. Looking forward to it! As a member of DU since 2004, let me

say this: I love this place, too :-).

[jaxx]

58. I love good news, so thanks for this.

It will be nice to have the two of you commenting again.

:applause:

[sharp_stick]

59. As someone with 3 kids of my own

over the last 6 years I understand your situation pretty well.

I look forward to the survey and I'm happy to see the Electronic Frontier Foundation and DU going after that righthaven scam.

Thanks for the post and updates.

[QC]

60. Those of us who were here in the early days enjoyed your participation

and appreciated the Ask the Admins forum.

It is good to see both of things returning.

[shireen]

61. there's one thing i don't get ...

Can the three of you actually make a decent wage running DU? With your backgrounds in computing, there have to be more lucrative employment opportunities out there. I'm glad you're here running DU, and I'm glad you love this place. But given the ups and downs we've had, I have to wonder if the sacrifices and emotional investment is worth it.

[Skinner]

66. I think I am making a pretty good living here.

As you said, I could probably make more money doing something elsewhere. And it is true that the emotional investment can be rough. I'll be honest: Sometimes it really does get me down.

But if I keep my eye on the big picture, and focus on the positive rather than the negative, I understand how fortunate I am. There are so many great people here. And the job is very flexible, which allows me to do things like take care of my kids.

[madmax]

106. Now that's what I call 'Family Values'

:yourock:

[tavalon]

169. Yeah, that's one I've never understood:

How you've put up with us for so long. Many, if not most of us at one time or another have told DU or a specific someone to "fuck off" and you never, ever did. The depth of patience you have for our asinine little games astounds me. OTOH, there are gems here and I guess if one can focus on that, one can keep going. Of course, I said I was quitting for the summer and only made it three weeks, so I guess I'm willing to stay through the crap too.

Honestly, this is the best damn political website on the tubes and while these are rough times (no longer having a common enemy but still having hot, hot blood), I think we'll make it. And having the ATA back will be good for some laughs (and, uh, information, or something). :)

Bring back the Hate Mailbag. That was definitely good for some laughs.

[Swamp Rat]

268. Bring back the Hate Mailbag!!

:applause: I enjoy reading the Hate Mailbag and Top 10 Idiots! :D

[shireen]

290. you have more faith in people than i do

I think it's remarkable that you're willing to put up with all the shit that goes on here. Thank you for your dedication ... you, EarlG, and Elad.
:hug:

[Renew Deal]

63. "Top 10 things read in the "Ask the Administrators" forum" from 12/6/03

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x541446

And another one: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2895129

[Beaverhausen]

296. LOL!!! Those are great!

:rofl:

[KoKo]

64. Good News for you two...

Does this mean you two will become more visibly politically active out here in the Netroots or do you prefer to still be running DU as a "discussion forum" behind the scenes?

Some of us don't really know what function DU serves other than as message board for food fights, where serious discussion is cut off by snark. Hopefully the survey will answer that part. Would hate to see DU become something like FDL or TPM have morphed into with the flash, sensationalism, etc. But, given the way the Net is surging in readership DU could jazz itself up bring in more ad revenue and hopefully win more respect in the greater Dem Blogosphere with a revamp and retool and focus on the future. Maybe becoming more unique than it already is. More fun for you guys...more fun for viewers.

BTW, nice to see some humor coming back with the "Top 10" returning.

[Skinner]

99. Tough one.

To be honest, I don't really desire the spotlight that some of the other lefty bloggers have. I like my privacy and my life. I have always thought of DU as a place where a diverse group of liberals can come together. It's a member-driven community. It's not a star vehicle for me to spread my version of liberalism.

I know many people wish DU had a higher profile. And I agree that it could be a good thing for DU. But I'm not sure I want a higher profile.

[Uzybone]

131. have to say a big +1 to that attitude

[tavalon]

170. Too bad

I think you would make a much better spokesperson than some of the others out there. That said, stardom sucks. Glad you know it.

[KoKo]

278. I understand what you say... n/t

[annabanana]

314. Some have "high profile" thrust upon them . .

I know I prefer the backroom.

[martymar64]

339. I prefer being Underground.

I'm proud to be a DUer and to be amongst other DUers.

But I generally keep most of my political postings here and prefer other forums for my other opinions.

I think we are too diverse of opinion within the center to left continuum to be represented to the general public and media with one face or voice.

I welcome the survey. I look forward to giving my two cents about this forum.

Welcome back!

[DCBob]

65. Thanks and good luck to you and to DU!

[Bluenorthwest]

67. That all sounds very good to me

Hoping that all changes to circumstance are positive, of course. You will be a great addition to your own forum!

[Pisces]

69. Great news!!

[liberalhistorian]

72. Glad to see this and looking forward

to the positive changes and the return of old favorites. My husband (existentialist) and I have DU to thank for our meeting, so we hope such changes will help keep DU going for a long time.

[shireen]

292. +1

awesome to hear that!!! I wonder how many other relationships have blossomed at DU.
Thanks, that made me smile. :)

[The Uncola]

74. This newbie...

... is thankful for getting a little history and also for giving us a place to speak our minds. Kudos.

[Old and In the Way]

76. Good news all away around.

ATA was one of my favorite reads on DU. We need a place where users can make constructive suggestions to better this forum.

To whit: A greatest page of greatest pages - a permanent 'Hall of Fame' for hi impact threads that showcases great writing, original reporting, and all around important threads.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

77. KEEP YOUR FILTHY ADMINISTRATOR HANDS OFF MY WEBSITE BLAAAARGH!!!

:evilgrin: Sorry I couldn't help myself.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

220. +1!!!

:rofl:

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

263. Just some good ol' teabagging fun. nt

[blondeatlast]

78. DU Newbs: AtA is teh awesome (especially Sunday mornings)!

Good for a few laughs, but also for understanding that DU's admins are sincere and really do love this place.

[AtomicKitten]

79. cool beanz

:smoke:

[stuntcat]

80. I wanna take a survey!!!

Hey yo.

(It wasn't because of the fighting (purge, whatever) that I stopped being a member. I had to quit my two NPR's and a couple of my non-profit memberships too ) :cry:

lookin forward to a survey :bounce: :bounce:

[Just One Woman]

81. Thank you

Well, I am fairly new to this site. I have been a spectator for a less than a year, but just recently joined in order to take part in the conversation. Maybe I can't see that it hasn't been as much of a success compared to your goals, but it has been a fabulously successful site since I have been watching. Maybe there are other places where you get to hear from the people, but I don't think they compare to DU. I recommend you guys to everyone. DU is "We The People", and I thank you all for putting it out there for us to see.

[Skinner]

94. Thanks for the kind note.

And welcome to DU. :thumbsup:

[tavalon]

171. It's been tough here lately

It reminds me of the primary wars. We have tended to forget that we're on the same team lately.

[SalviaBlue]

82. Thanks for the update.

This is the first place I check every morning and I check in several times a day. This is a great website; I think this is by far the most user friendly website I know of. I'm glad you are such good dads!! I'll be happy to take your survey when it comes out.

[garthranzz]

83. A heartfelt thank-you

DU is the first political blog I go to, and sometimes the only one I get to see during the day. It has been a place of comfort and inspiration. You, EarlG and Elad have done and are doing a tremendous job. This place is unique; this is a place of dialogue. I'm glad your family circumstances are good, and allowing you more time here. That can only enhance the place. You guys have my support, and gratitude.

[bleever]

84. Guess I can cancel my post titled "Please Kick and Rec this thread to make Elad get a vasectomy."

Good news, and I'm happy for you and EarlG, and for DU for having you guys more present here.

[greiner3]

85. "You'll be seeing us more often from now on." This could be a good thing?

JK!

Welcome back. This is the only site I visit more than daily, except for looking at my dwindling 401k money via stock checks and bank balances for my daily dwindling money. I become depressed when the site is down, there is infighting amongst posters that I admire or when there seems no hope for the party of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Thank you for the heartfelt and personal explanation. I am confident that I will see positive changes soon.

[Cleita]

86. Thank you for all you have done.

DU is the one thing that kept me sane during the Bush Dark Ages. We still have a ways to go to get to the Renaissance but I am so grateful you will be here for us to reach that day.

:loveya:

[Scurrilous]

87. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Lucky Luciano]

88. Interested how the survey breaks down by number of posts and time of membership! Thx! nt

[tammywammy]

89. ATA was the bestest ever!

[Ikonoklast]

92. I hope this means I'm FINALLY going to get my pony.

And that some of the current inmates finally realize that, no, they are not going to take over the asylum.

[Bucky]

96. I got yer pony right here, pal

:dem:

[tavalon]

172. Oh yeah, ATA is a great pony

It's been so long. I had forgotten. I can't believe these guys want to subject themselves to that again, but I'm looking forward to it!

[Gin Blossom]

215. And that you'll change into your superman outfits and start waving magic wands.

As a professional whiner, I expect nothing less.

[AsahinaKimi]

93. K&R

:kick:

[Desertrose]

95. Top 10 Conservative Idiots...I mean, the field is so rich....

how can you NOT bring that back?

Glad to see the possibilities of some things I liked about "the good old days returning"...now if we could bring back some of the "good old posters" from then as well....

Members survey should be enlightening - hopefully.

:)

[Iggo]

97. Hi, David!!!!

:applause:

[me b zola]

98. K&R

:thumbsup:

[SteveM]

101. Thanks for your work. You have been quite fair. I look forward to...

the member attitude survey.

[MilesColtrane]

102. You may find that some of the stuff in the back of the fridge has gone bad.

[kpete]

104. WOW AGAIN!

I love this place too!!!
peace, luv & DU
kp

[CaliforniaPeggy]

105. I remember you, David! I joined in 2005, and you were around more then.

I'm really pleased to hear about the good changes coming. This is the best website on the net, and your actions are just going to make it better.

Glad to hear as well that your boys are growing up well!

And a spiffy new office! That's great!

I eagerly anticipate your survey.

Thank you for doing everything you do...this place is my electronic home.

:D

[Nevernose]

107. In the decade I've been wasting free time at DU...

I've seen my own kid go from kindergarten to high school. I'm getting married for the first time in a few months, I've gotten two college degrees, gotten a job, a house, a car, and a membership on the HOA board of directors.

DU's been with me, sucking up my free time, the whole time. I guess what I'm trying to say is thanks for everything.

[Catherina]

108. I welcome this news! Thank you.

My one interaction with you over a woman who wanted us darkies to mop her floor, after the mods wouldn't do anything about her, was what kept me here. Thank you Skinner. You proved you were a very fair and astute person.

[democrank]

109. A genuine thank-you

for all you do.

[northzax]

110. welcome back, guys

i trust the new offices are nicer than the ones above Zorba's?

[Skinner]

112. Actually, I don't think the new office is any better.

But it doesn't smell like french fries, with is a plus.

[Aristus]

111. Thank you, Skinner.

I'm happy for you and EarlG and the time you have been able to spend with your families. Thank you, as always, for creating DU. You helped me keep my sanity through some very dark years.

It will be good to see you around more often from now on. I hope your presence will help keep things under control here.

[sellitman]

113. Glad things are well with management.

Dont Let the bitching and moaning here get to you. It is the Internet and you are not dealing with an organized political party. We are Democrats and someday I expect Websters to expand the definition of disfunction to include anyone associated with Democrats.

[dipsydoodle]

114. +200

That's a great article in the Las Vegas Sun on the subject. :thumbsup:

[AlinPA]

115. Thank you. You are good people.

[Paper Roses]

116. Bravo, thanks to all of you for your hard work! n/t

[yurbud]

117. great news! I've been waiting for that survey.

[yurbud]

118. I hope they POST THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY

[Skinner]

124. We intend to post the results.

Although I must admit I am concerned that not matter what the results are, it's likely to cause some bad feeling or fighting among people who think they need to spin it one way or another.

The obvious solution would be to not post the results. But of course that would invite the accusation that we're trying to hide the results. This is DU, after all.

[Stinky The Clown]

129. The fact is, DU has some very active cliques, each with its own (DU-centric) world view

Will the survey be able to discern and then compile on that criterion?

[yurbud]

130. I think my only quibble would be about questions not answers.

[Political_Junkie]

119. Good to hear.

This place is my home on the net also. I'm here everyday, even if I don't post, to get the latest news and see what everyone's up to. If it wasn't for this place I would have lost my mind during those long dark days of Bush. Still things have gotten a bit rough around here lately with the inmates running the asylum. Glad to have all three of you back. Looking forward to the poll also.

[Loki]

121. Been on DU since April, 2001

I'm here for the long haul. :thumbsup: Skinner and EarlG

[LynneSin]

126. Try being in the same room as Skinner, EarlG and GOPisEvil

Just say "Dave" once and you'll be overwhelmed with "YES"

Been there done that!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

214. huh? EarlG's name *isn't* Earl?

:dunce:

[rug]

128. How do you answer a survey?

Never mind, I'll wait until ATA re-opens.

[BootinUp]

132. sounds good! nt

[Nye Bevan]

133. ATA! Yay!

How do I start a thread? Have you seen my keys? Why did my post get deleted and not the other guy's? Why do the mods hate me? Why haven't you responded yet- I posted my question 30 minutes ago! But he obviously was a troll! He disagreed with me! etc.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

134. Will any consideration be given to lifting bans on...

proven, long-time Democratic members who were axed during those "rough patches"?

[Skinner]

139. I never rule anything out.

But that is not high on my agenda at this time.

[LiberalAndProud]

255. I wish for that too.

I understand that it might be hard to adjudicate amnesty, but I think we should start with Walt Star.

[Arkana]

135. So load your six-shooters and saddle up, Tex.

[jotsy]

136. Your presence will be a new thing for me.

As I only arrived in the spring of '09, months after the new administration took office in D.C. I read mostly, rec what I like and frankly don't speak out all that often anymore. The view my hill provides is a difficult thing for others to see, a little too left field I guess, but I figure I'm safe if I keep to basic manners. The talk here can get pretty tense but there are many interesting places to be and the place is certainly user friendly for a reluctant novice like me. I hope your increased interaction here will bring the remedies you seek. I'm not too familiar with ATA, but do recall a few conservative idiots that faded soon after I arrived.

I think this Righthaven mess an assault on the democratic principles of free speech and that its parasitic notion of legal theory is laughed out of court, and that they get to pay your legal expenses for their trouble.

Welcome to the preschool window gentlemen, enjoy a little more time on your own terms, but remember as I've suggested before in your open chat threads, DU is every bit the kind of work parenting is and just as exasperating, though I hope never to learn first hand, I haven't the energy or the patience, so I really shouldn't try to say.

I guess I'll see you both in the threads.

I appreciate the efforts and intentions of the place, tyvm. It's a quiet corner to hang a hat, but it's what I do if that's okay.

[Turbineguy]

137. Good!

Good.

[woofless]

138. Way to go.

Thanks for the best site on the net.

Woof

[niceypoo]

142. I went through college with little kids at home

During that time I was also the primary care provider while my wife was at work, so I know exactly where your coming form. Kudos, job well done.

[mmonk]

143. As usual, thanks.

It's all good.

[DesertFlower]

145. i thank you all for the work you

do to keep this site up and running.

[John Q. Citizen]

146. Congratulations

(hopefully that is appropriate) on your reunification under one roof and your expanded schedule.

[LittleGirl]

147. Hi

I haven't been here that long but I park here as much as possible. I've learned so much about being a 'lefty'. (To be fair, I didn't know which side I was on 4 yrs ago meaning I didn't vote, I didn't pay attention and I was just busy living my life). But now, you all have helped me learn what it is to be a dem and what it means to 'help the least of those among us'. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to this site.

Oh, in all honesty, I love being able to cuss and read cuss words which makes this site more interesting and REAL.

[bear425]

148. I thought from the tone, this was a Dear John letter

And that DU was going away. So glad to hear it's the opposite! Thanks for all Y'all do!

[mzmolly]

150. "There still isn't any other place quite like it on the Internet."

Absolutely right. Welcome back, so to speak. :hi:

[Generic Other]

151. Annoying Skinner will become a DU sport again!!

Welcome back old friend!

[cry baby]

152. joined in 2004 - and liked reading your comments...and ATA!

Thanks for all you've done over these years. It will be good to see EarlG back, too!

[xchrom]

153. Recommend

[Uncle Joe]

154. David, thanks to you, Earl G and Elad for all that you've done in creating

this island in the Internet.

Y'all have done an outstanding job; just when the nation needed it the most; during the darkest days of the Bush coup, my only regret is in being a relative novice to the Internet and not discovering D.U. until 2005.

I look forward to your increased presence and these announced improvements to D.U.

Peace to you, Joe

:thumbsup:

[txlibdem]

155. Congratulations Mr. Skinner

I will definitely be filling in the survey and look forward to the Ask the Admin feature.

One suggestion I would make is to have some sort of "lost password" function. I can't get into DU on my other computer and I didn't want to bother the webmaster...

[Joanne98]

157. Congrats!

[shanti2]

159. So happy that Top 10 is back.

I was in shock when I got here and it was back up.

[lame54]

160. again I didn't check who was logged on

I'm sure hubby lame would K&R this thread. I will now sign off his name and repost on mine

[RevCheesehead]

162. Can we have ATA without the Swedish Fish, please?

It seemed like your, ah, "favors" could be bought, IFKWIM. :hi:

[Skinner]

166. Swedish fish, you say?

Here, have some!

[merh]

345. how about swedish fish sashimi?

:hi:

[tavalon]

163. Whew

You're first few sentences made it seem like a goodbye speech. I like the end quite a bit better. It will be nice to see you two around more and reopening the ATA is a stellar idea, IMO!

[orleans]

304. funny...

i posted back to skinner and then decided to read through this thread. i said the same thing in my first sentence (basically) that you did. mine is further downthread.

[unapatriciated]

164. glad to see you are going to be more involved with DU but

am very impressed that you wanted and made possible the time needed for taking care of your little ones. I have been reading DU off and on since 2003 and look forward to both Top 10 Conservative Idiots as well as ATA.

I know Hubby has really missed T10CI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMP-4YRxBZo

[madrchsod]

165. please bring back the hate mail....

nice to see the ask the guys who run this place forum is back

[lunatica]

167. So glad to meet you again!

I'm looking forward to your survey.

[diane in sf]

168. Thank you for all your work--this is my main home on the internet aside from my

own mailbox and lately Facebook. I hope we can take those copyright trolls to the cleaners big time.

[Kali]

175. well that is interesting

hope you will consider what I sent in a PM and the ramifications of how and why that all happened

glad you are seeking the community's input - it takes work and active cultivation to make community

and hee hee selfishly ecstatic that the Top 10 is returning!

[bobburgster]

176. Sounds like a great plan to me. n/t

[Hekate]

179. (cautiously) That sounds promising. I wish you all the best.

[Bonhomme Richard]

180. I have been around here a long, long time and...............

I want to say thank you for providing this forum and thank you to all the contributors. Life is full of ups and downs and DU is no different. If, at the end of the day, we are all breathing that's a good thing.

[proReality]

181. K&R

[azmouse]

182. Changes are needed.

[lame54]

183. Good to have you back David

[Odin2005]

184. Yay! Thanks guys!

[JuniperLea]

186. Good to hear... guess I'll hang around longer after all...

I've been thinking someone changed my favorites as a cruel hoax... :) :hi:

[Redstone]

187. Good deal, Skinner. Very good deal. Family first, but then

take care of business.

It made me feel better about DU (not that I didn't feel good about it before) to read your message.

Redstone

[nolabear]

188. Whew! I was afriad you were closing up shop! I'm glad you're still here.

[Old Troop]

189. Whatever you may feel, I think you guys did a super job.

[WheelWalker]

190. Blessed be your good work.

[jobycom]

191. 'S'ok, Skinner, I watched them for you while you were gone.

Some were bad. I took names. Sorry about the broken lamp. I'll send you the invoice for expenses, but could you forward me the first $100K until I get the exact tally? I spent a fortune on duct tape and band-aids, and candles for when everything crashed.

Welcome back, btw. I was a stay-at-home dad, too, during grad school. Well worth the sacrifice. Hope you enjoyed it. :thumbsup:

[badgerpup]

192. K & R

Thanks for all the blood, sweat and tears you've put in.
They are appreciated, believe me. :patriot:



:kick:

[pdx_prog]

193. I miss the hate mail bag

I enjoyed reading the mail bag and would love to see it come back!

[librechik]

194. Best of luck to you, Skinner

I love this place too.

[Capn Sunshine]

195. More power to you

literally. :toast: just by minor experience running a site ( or "brush with death" as I call it) I can only imagine the kind of stuff your day entails. It can be quite consuming.

So best wishes David, and I hope you find your way through this place and remain mentally stable enough to enjoy the fruits of your labors. :)

[Violet_Crumble]

311. Yr a real blast from the past!

I inhabited that 'brush with death' for a while and had some fun before I got bored and wandered back to DU. It was much more fun than the more recent version that I wandered over to that was full of hidden invite-only forums and snarky and paranoid folk who loved chortling about how friendly they were. As irritable as I've gotten over the past year or so with DU, I always end up wandering back again coz the bottom line is it's one of the least irksome places on the internet to hang out at :)

[kimmerspixelated]

196. This is great!

Glad you shared. And you are so right. There's no place like the DU anywhere in cyberland. I think that's why so many of us come back, or never really go away. I can't wait to take the survey or questionnaire you mentioned.

[carolinayellowdog]

197. Joined in 2002 and have seen bullying steadily increase for years

Hi David,

Your survey, if it's to identify the reason former donors and participants feel alienated, must address the perception of bullies running roughshod over longtime members. No one should be posting dozens of hostile messages in other members' threads, or making sweeping attacks on "you people." As a progressive, I perceive that the bullying here appears overwhelmingly to be centrists against progressives. But regardless of what "side" the bullies are on, they're destroying any sense of community here, which is what brought us together years ago.

CYD

[jannyk]

256. That pretty much sums it up - well said - nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

328. I heartily 2nd that thought.

[inna]

340. +10,000

out-of-control bullying by message discipline enforcers (and bannings of progressive members) are two main problems with this site.

[zeemike]

198. Over the years you guys have made us proud.

And that continues to this day...it is the best place on the net and you have made it so.
So I look forward to you guys doing more....we love you.

[Call Me Wesley]

200. My, 2007 seems just a few months ago.

I'm getting old. ;) But I'm still here, and so are others who never abandoned the place; many, many others. Looking forward to see you more, and also looking forward to the survey.

All my best to your and EarlG's offsprings. Hope they're keeping you busy. ;)

Thanks.

[xxqqqzme]

201. OMG, you made me look

Been here since 2002?! I feel old.
I love DU. This was my sanity base during those early (and later) dark dimson years. Thanks for all the hard work.

Never noticed before but...

Except for the Skinner part, you have the same name as my brother - who is a good dad and now a great, bemused grandfather....even tho he's a republican't.

[intaglio]

202. That title sounds like the opening line at Bloggers Anonymous

Be good, be careful and not too upset at the fractious electronic kids in your care.

[spanone]

203. great news!!! it can only help. i love this place too. recommended.

[ermasdaughter]

204. Welcome Back!!

And thanks for creating this "space" for us to hash out the issues of our democracy!

[elehhhhna]

206. Winston is an EXCELLENT choice for this action --

they were a great client of mine in Chicago. Superb firm, and well connected, too.

[blondeatlast]

219. Yeah, when I saw that I was pleasantly astonished.

I think Winston & Strawn is looking to score a big win on this and have their names connected to a landmark case.

:bounce:

[elehhhhna]

207. Winston is an EXCELLENT choice for this action --

they were a great client of mine in Chicago. Superb firm, and well connected, too.

[proud patriot]

210. It's been an honor to serve this site for 9 years

Just let me know whatever I can do to help in the continued effort to better DU.

:patriot:

[Terra Alta]

211. thank you Skinner, EarlG, and Elad

for making this site the best Democratic website on the internets. :thumbsup:

I'm somewhat new(been here for less than a year) and not a prolific poster but I do visit every day and I get most of my news from here -- keep up the good work!!

[fishwax]

212. I'm surprised (and excited) that ATA is coming back

Thanks for all the hard work putting over the years. I'm optimistic about the future here at DU.

[earth mom]

213. I thought you were one of the owners of DU? If not, who owns DU? nt

[redwitch]

216. Hi David

Good news indeed! And I am happy that you and EarlG had the chance to do lots of parenting. It is incredibly important and really, really good for kids. :hi:

[Ozymanithrax]

217. Good news...thanks. n/t

[CherokeeDem]

218. Great News...

I found my way to DU a month or so after the Supremes destroyed the country in 2001. I was living in Miami, FL then, heavily involved in the campaign and the aftermath...totally destroyed by the result. I found common ground with people on DU although I only lurked for the first few years.

This is the first place I turn to when something happens in the world. In fact, I look here for breaking news more than I check the news channels.

In 2001, I heard the news about the first plane hitting the World Trade Center sitting in traffic on the Dolphin Expressway, then heard the other plane hit. My first words, screamed in my car, were, "And that fucking son-of-a-bitch George Bush is in the White House." When I got to work, I didn't go to where the firm's staff was watching the TV...I went to my office, turned on the computer and opened DU. During the rest of the day, people came to me for info...because you, those people who posted that day...were a better source of info and comfort than the news people were.

I know there are problems, people create problems for lots and lots of reasons, and Democrats can be stupid and narrow-minded and crabby...we're human. However, none of us can deny that what was started here has impacted us in more ways than we could know. From the horrors going on in the world, the politics that make us either happy or mad, to the wonderful pictures of our pets, family, the photo contest...Sunday LOLcats...DU has become a part of life for a lot of people. It is certainly a part of mine.

Glad to have our leaders back at the helm full-time, but also glad they had the ability to be home with their children. Keep up the great work!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

221. Skinner, EarlG, Elad, you guys are really special people

And together, even more so.

I've. Been here a long time (different name back then), and your creation, DU helped me get hrough the dark bush ages. I've always been impressed with your integrity and kindness. Always refreshing --and inspiring--to see those qualities.

I spend most of my interwebz addiction here too, especially when I'm sick and laid up, which I've been a lot lately. This site is so well done, I'm always discombobulated at other forums (political or otherwise) that are not as well executed.

Good to see your presence again!
Glad all is well in your life.
Glad you're fighting the rightwing sludge machine!!

[Shell Beau]

222. I think this is much needed. I also think it is much needed for

y'all to be more visible. Participate more. I hope this helps DU. I really do.

[MrMickeysMom]

223. Thanks for herding us cats...

"PLAY SOME SKINNER!"

[edogawa]

226. Thank you so much for all you do.

If I might make one small suggestion. Please try and open up your forums to true debate. After my friend told me that he was banned from posts here because he said something critical of the left and positive about conservatives, I have been afraid ever since to say my real feelings out of fear. This should never happen. Let us be truly honest. And if that means praising a conservative or conservative position, that is only right. Why should we live in fear?

[blondeatlast]

228. With all due respect, did you read the DU Rules and do you understand why it was founded?

If you do that, and you still wish to praise anything conservative, don't let me stop you.

[Terra Alta]

229. if you want to praise conservative positions

There's always Free Republic to go to.

I'm a die-hard progressive Democrat living in a very conservative part of the country. DU is my safe haven; I come here to get away from the constant attacks by the right I hear every day. The day DU starts allowing conservative positions to be posted will be the day I leave.

[MrMickeysMom]

272. edogawa, let me assume that you are not ...

...what would typically be type-cast here as "a conservative"? Yes?

We have debate here surrounding stuff like that all the time. Some people on DU express forms of conservative values (oh, yes, they do) such as fiscal conservatism. Gee, I don't know many people who aren't conservative about THAT. Social conservatism is NOT a DU "mindset" as far as I've ever seen.

But, I think the response so far from your post portends the awful things that have been hyped as "mainstream conservatism" and the whole idea of Democratic values goes to hell if you think you're in the right spot for that.

So, I might think that you're a believer in shared values and helping people who value democratic values, and who also think (like Thom Hartmann has said) "when everyone does better EVERYONE does better.

But, if that didn't really describe you.........
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Go to Free Republic, then and tell them I said, "Ow!"... :-) .... Got cha!

[Deb]

227. I love the smell of a good Top Ten in the morning!

:toast:

[KatyaR]

230. Yay!!! Welcome back to the trenches, gentlemen!

We'll be privileged to have you (since they are your trenches, after all).... :bounce: :bounce:

[LisaM]

231. I'm glad Top Ten Conservative Idiots will be back

it will help us focus before the election.

[underpants]

232. Welcome to DU

:hi:

if'n I haven't before

I'm going to be in DC on Oct. 30 so if you want someone to take out the trash at that office or shake the toners let me know

[annabanana]

329. Hey! Me Too!

(heading to the rallies on the Mall?)

[underpants]

332. Yes we are planning on it

thanks for the heads up I need to check the train schedule

[onethatcares]

235. I like this place too. It's the first plac I check at 5:00 a.m. each morning

then it's on to the porn roadshow.

But seriously, I've been here since the 2000 theft election cause I was looking for a place that agreed with me about it.

I am glad to see everyone here.

Peace

[nadinbrzezinski]

236. Welcome back from parental duties

they changed... but that is another story.

Hey at least you have a few years before the fun of the teen years.

Congrats skinner.

[lovemydog]

237. cool

I love this place too. Thanks for your work.

[malaise]

238. Thanks David

:hi:

[NanceGreggs]

239. Hi, David ...

... and welcome to DU!

[cliffordu]

260. Well....

:rofl:

[Divine Discontent]

298. hehe...

I thought it was going to say, 'welcome back', but that's still cute.

[BrklynLiberal]

240. Lots to look forward to. Thanks for the heads up.

[lonestarnot]

241. Right the fuck on! This is very good news!

:woohoo: :bounce: :party: :bounce: and a wooooooooooooodamnwhooooooooooooooooo! :bounce: :party: :bounce:

and a big


K & R!

[nannah]

242. thanks for the update

i've been around DU since 2002; i read 2 or more times a day. i find it a very broad based source for information. i post when it seems important and read always. thanks for being here. your's and your families' sacrifice is greatly appreciated by me. thanks.

edit for clarity

[stevedeshazer]

243. I volunteer to be the new Bob Boudelang.

Bob is sorely missed.

He needs a new tea party update.

BTW, good luck with the kids to both you Skinner and EarlG. They grow up fast.

I love your website.

[LiberalAndProud]

244. A back to the future moment? I can't wait!

I would be content with the Top 10 and ATA, but can we see hate mail again. That was some funny stuff, you know? I'm haven't read the other comments yet, but this announcement has warmed the cockles of my heart.
:)

[saltpoint]

245. Recommended.

[WillyT]

246. I Have Only One Request...

Can we bring back the :fuckyou: smilie ???

KIDDING!!!

:hide::evilgrin::hide:

It would come in really handy these days.

:yoiks:

[RagAss]

248. Hey Skinner....Hey EarlG...Thanks for everything you do !!!

[msanthrope]

249. So glad you guys are 'back!' n/t

[hendo]

254. Good to hear that you are back

and thanks for linking to an EFF cause. I keep trying to discuss the EFF and I am not getting anyone to care.

[FourScore]

257. Thank you for the wonderful update!

I look forward to the survey.

:hi:

[xultar]

259. OMG - Skinner would you please address the Unrec thing! OMG

Why people keep bitchin about it is beyond me.

It is insanity...they just keep bitchin


It drives me MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD.

[MH1]

261. Proud to be the 400th recommendation!

proud mainly because I don't think I've ever seen a thread with 400 recs!!

:)

[Historic NY]

262. Thanks for all you do in trying to herd us...its worst than cats sometimes.

[PeaceNikki]

264. Welcome back, David!

Now can you guys please work on a mobile version of the site?

kthxbai!!!

[SharonRB]

265. Thank you, David

I hope the changed circumstances were for the better, not just for us here at DU, but for you and EarlG personally. I'm glad I've met you personally several times -- it's nice to have a face and personality to put with the posts. You guys do a great job, under sometimes difficult circumstances, and I, for one, appreciate it.


Thank you all -- hopefully things will get better around here now that you can be more hands on.

[bertman]

269. Glad to hear you're back, David. Looking forward to the survey. REC

[Swamp Rat]

270. Geaux DU Admins!!

:yourock:

[intaglio]

303. Swamp Rat that's great! n/t

[Mira]

331. Excellent, thanks Swamp Rat.

[AwakeAtLast]

271. All I can say is - You guys rock!

This is the best site on the net, IMO. You never lose your integrity, always thoughtful about policies, and have interesting new things up your collective sleeves. Keep up the good work!

[BlueCollar]

273. "You'll be seeing us more often from now on."

Just when I thought we were going to hell in a handbasket...

:kick:

[Autumn]

274. Un rec

:rofl: :rofl: Welcome back. You have all been missed rec #401

[Rosa Luxemburg]

275. You are our heros!

I'm so glad DU is here!

[Canuckistanian]

277. Hi David

It's been 32 minutes since my last drink.

Oops, wrong meeting.

Seriously, congrats on your new situation and I offer support for DU's fight against Righthaven.

And glad to hear the ATA forum is coming back. It's a pain for admins, but it answers a lot of questions for newbie and old-timer alike.

[Taverner]

279. Cheers! Aye! And all that...

[blue_roses_lib]

280. I thought I was going to read a post

about how DU was going away... happy that isn't the case.

David - I've been lurking for years, started sporadically posting last year, and come to this site at least once a day. It was my safe haven when I got to work one chilly day in August of 08 and heard that McCain had picked my illustrious ex gov as his running mate. I thought has the world gone mad????????? I come here daily to stay informed and to have a laugh, and to spend time with like minded people. It is a home away from home for me.


I don't remember the ATA forum but it sounds like a good idea. T10CI always gave me a laugh, and may I concur with everyone else on this forum who requested that Hate Mail be brought back. What a riot.

I'm very glad that you were able and continue to be able to spend time with your children. Family is the most important thing.


Nice to meet you! :hi:

[a2liberal]

281. Excited

I just joined DU (been lurking for many months here) in the hope that these changes will make this a even better community to be a part of! :) I was glad to see the top 10 conservative idiots return... I remember that from way back in the day when I used to check DU occasionally. (then I wandered away for many years and "re-discovered" it about a year ago)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

343. Welcome to DU, a2liberal!

:hi:

[a2liberal]

344. Thanks for the welcome!

I've been reading the greatest threads for quite a while now, but was afraid to join because my views are a bit left of the mainstream here and I've seen other new members be accused of being trolls for that (while the long-time members can get away with it because they have an established reputation). But then I figured, how else am I going to become a long-time member? That and I had trouble coming up with a username, but this time it just came to me.

[beyurslf]

282. I can say the Top 10 was the reason I started coming to this site

many, many years ago. I believe there was a link to it on the sludgereport, if that even still exists anymore. I am glad it is back!

[donheld]

283. It will be good to have you more visible now.

[grantcart]

284. Efforts that are designed to help Democrats become more effective

in advancing the successes of the Party will, I believe, find a tremendous resevoir of good will.

[stranger81]

285. Winston is a terrific law firm -- so glad to hear they're in DU's corner.

Looking forward to the victory announcement.

[cjbgreen]

289. DU is important

Thank you!

[nradisic]

291. Long time David...

Keep up the good work...

[greyl]

293. 420! nt

[ibegurpard]

294. excellent

[democracy1st]

295. K & R

[earcandle]

299. This is my safe space, my American proof that self expression is still free.

Thanks.  I will take the survey for sure.  I just lost $4800
per month in income, so I don't think I can give any money,
but I have skills I can contribute if needed. Let me know if I
can help.

[Tsiyu]

300. Great news

Good on Elad for keeping the DU fires smoldering...and glad to have you two more of a presence. :thumbsup:

Skinner, you and EarlG are the epitome of progressive dads...you will always be glad you took the time to be with your babies during the cute-but-exhausting years.

Congrats on the new office and may justice prevail in court.


:kick:

[marlakay]

301. Hi, I don't post a lot but I have been here for years

I saved the thread we did the day after Kerry lost where someone said I am not afraid and will never give up and gave their real name, thousands of us did and I was one. It was a powerful statement and showed we aren't some shadow shallow blog but real people with real lives. Glad you were able to take care of your kids. I am obviously older (54) because my kids have kids, but I stayed home for 6 years with them and I would never take those years back no matter how poor we were.

[orleans]

302. WHEW!!

i'm reading your post and at first i thought you were going to say you were closing up du.

gave me a bit of a "start" for a minute there--and who the hell needs a "start" at one in the morning.

anyway, glad things are working out for you guys.
glad we'll still be up and running.
and thank you for this tremendous community you've created for all of us. through it all--the ups and downs and thick and thins and times i'm not even aware of--it has been amazing.

[Lindsey]

308. Very good news. I'm looking forward to the survey. n/t

[nemo137]

307. I'm glad the site's here and I'm gld the EFF is in your corner!

Thanks, Skinner.

[Evoman]

309. You Bastard!

I got heart palpitations when I read the first part of your post and thought you guys were shutting it down! Great turn around though.

Thank you for DU. You have no idea how it's impacted my life. Yes, I appreciate the political news and discussion, but allowing me to talk with some of the best damn people in the world may have just saved my life. I've been through a lot of shit this year....from surviving an abusive work place, to getting hit by a car a couple of weeks ago. And I'm thankful I can interact with DUers in a way that I can't in with people in my "real life". DUers have the right mix of sympathy and ass kicking that you can't even get on whiney "support" sites.

Thank you, David et al.

[Lochloosa]

310. I finally found a good use for the Unrec button

:evilgrin:

[SaveOurDemocracy]

322. heh

:spank:

[Lochloosa]

330. Ouch...........No...don't stop....

:loveya:

[oldlib]

312. Thank you.

For creating an outstanding website. Your efforts have paid off, as the current popularity is testimony. God help and sustain the Democratic Party.

[annabanana]

313. Top 10 Conservative Idiots . .. . YAY!!

(Was always a big draw for new members)

Also, it will be good to see your paw prints all over DU again.

[pleah]

315. K&R

[suffragette]

317. Sounds like a step in a good direction

K&R

[Phentex]

318. When will we get new pictures of you and EarlG?...

Last pictures I recall you were both holding babies and now you admit that was years ago? I want to see the toddlers in DU tee shirts. :)

Thank you.

[OneBlueSky]

319. "our first-annual Democratic Underground Member Attitudes Survey" . . .

I think I can save you a lot of time and energy . . .

Hell, yes, we got attitude! . . . and plenty of it!!! . . .

see . . . no need for a survey . . . :)

as for "You'll be seeing us more often from now on." . . . that sounds like a threat to me . . . I thought members weren't supposed to threaten other members . . . ah, what the hell -- you've earned it! . . .

all kidding aside, good that you'll be more visible around here . . . might help to keep some of those attitudes in check . . .

:hi:

[Lyric]

320. I'm really looking forward to this.

Really. I think it will be a very useful resource for the admins.

[gkhouston]

321. Shouldn't this thread be pinned? Or maybe pin a new one with the same OP

and a link to this, since it's getting big? :shrug:

[ismnotwasm]

323. Thank you

:)

[SaveOurDemocracy]

324. It's 'tomorrow' ... survey comin?

"Tomorrow we will unveil our first-annual Democratic Underground Member Attitudes Survey. The purpose of the survey is to collect some hard data to help us figure out who our members are, and how you feel about Democratic Underground. We want as many people as possible to take it, so we can get a really good sample. We hope that the results help give us some idea of where we go from here."


Not meaning to rush anybody, but I leave tomorrow for several days in a tech-free zone. :hippie:

[frogmarch]

327. Hi, David

Thanks for the news and info and for including the links pertaining to the copyright-trolling case.

I look forward to seeing the changes, including the return of EarlG's Top 10. I hope the Hate Mailbag will be back too.

[Maeve]

333. Boss, you just got me to do my happy dance!

I came here originally for the Top 10 Idiots, stayed for the company, been here since 2001 (DU was my lifeline on 9/11, when news was scarce elsewhere). I remember what a headache ATA could be, but I'm glad it's coming back.
:loveya: guys!!!

[Haole Girl]

334. Did the first-annual Democratic Underground Member Attitudes Survey come out yet?

Didn't receive anything in my inbox. Will it be posted somewhere today?

Also wondering if I need to turn on the ability to receive PM messages to receive the survey(?).

[mstinamotorcity]

338. Here's to you skinner!!!!

[Name removed]

342. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[David Zephyr]

347. Congrats on signing your lease.

That's is a commitment. And commitments are good. You will be vindicated in the copyright lunacy, too.